Page 121 of Full Body Hit, Part 1

“I…thank you, Daddy. I, um, I know I shouldn’t need protecting, that I can do things myself, but…I just want you to know that I really do feel safe when I’m with you. I…I trust you.”

“That’s…” Aunix cleared his throat. “Thank you.” A pause. “I don’t take that lightly. That trust—I’m gonna keep it safe. I promise you that.”

“I know,” Chase whispered, feeling the truth of it all the way through.

Chapter Twelve

AUSTON

Auston made absolutely sure that he was especially attentive to his baby after the revelation.

He’d sat on his couch after Charlie had told him about his condition, skin steaming, burning, an impotent creature of fire in his gut.

Charlie didn’t even acknowledge the wrong that was done to him. Giving children presentation inducers—which didn’t actually exist in a medical sense—was illegal. How the fuck had Charlie’s mother gotten away with it so easily? To the point that Charlie couldn’t even acknowledge the wrongness of what she’d done?

Charlie had been in no place to have that conversation, though. He’d shut down the moment it was suggested that his mom had done something immoral, something punishable. Part of Auston had wanted to insist, but it hadn’t been the time.

Auston could tell that Charlie had been absolutely certain he was about to be broken up with—or, at least, broken up with as much as possible when the two of them hadn’t made anything official.

The truth was, Auston was very much an Alpha that was led by his nose. He depended on it to gauge how people felt, what they really thought, how they interacted and meshed with him. Especially since Hunter, scent had been his primary way of finding someone compatible.

That didn’t mean he’d lied to Charlie. It was a revelation, having gotten so attached to someone romantically without even knowing how they smelt.

But whatever Auston’s emotionally stunted heart was feeling for Charlie, it was as real as anything he’d experienced for any of his other partners. Even more intense, perhaps, although Auston didn’t know if it that was due to the distance or their natural chemistry.

Whatever it was, Auston couldn’t imagine a world without Charlie. Where he didn’t think about him and long for his voice and his presence. Where he didn’t spend part of his day picking out presents and admiring the pictures Charlie sent back.

Scent, as important as it had been for all of his life, couldn’t compete with how he felt for his boy. The way his whole body felt the pull towards him, how it lit up if he heard Charlie’s voice, how he calmed when he took care of him. It was like they were in tune, as if the universe had already tied them together, a perfect balancing act.

Auston made sure to initiate the conversation the following days, sending Charlie photos of inconsequential things—his breakfast, the new charm he’d hung on the rearview mirror, the view from his apartment window.

Charlie always responded promptly. His voice was laced with a smile during calls. He sent Auston pictures right back. Some mundane, but also of him dressed in the clothes Auston sent him, of his long legs in stockings, of his ass cupped perfectly by Auston’s favourite panties, baby blue to go with his baby boy.

Things were tentative, but not in a bad way. They were treading softly instead of carefully, like the ground had sprouted something fresh and beautiful and a little fragile.

All this talk about scents, about mating—it made it obvious they were both on the same page about where this could lead. Auston didn’t know Charlie’s reason for not wanting to reveal their faces, but he wasn’t going to ask—after all, he had his own motivations for keeping the status quo.

He trusted Charlie not to reveal stuff about him to the press, but there was something liberating about separating Auston Mazdaki, the hockey player, and Auston, the person. Once that barrier broke, it would never be repaired.

Things settled after Charlie’s revelation as Christmas approached, Charlie getting more confident as the days passed without Auston pulling away.

It was the day before their last game leading up to the holiday break and Auston had somehow been roped into a charity gala with a few of his teammates—namely the guys like Noah and Sammy, who had been the core of the Spirits for the past few years.

Auston had already told Charlie that he had a function to attend and sent him a picture of himself in the tux he was wearing.

Charlie

Holy shit daddy you look soooooooo good

Wowowowowow

Auston laughed. Maybe the gala wouldn’t be so bad if he could get a few of those reactions out of it.

Apparently, Charlie had also been planning something for the outing.

Charlie

You know daddy it’s pretty mean sending me that when you’re gonna leave me here alone